That’s the message from Heidi Heitkamp and her campaign amid fierce backlash for outing sexual assault victims without their consent in a political attack ad.

Instead of apologizing to the victims of her actions, Heitkamp has returned to politics as usual, using seniors as political pawns to attack Kevin Cramer:

These actions come as a victim of Heitkamp’s actions appeared on CNN today, saying she had not heard from Heidi Heitkamp, and a simple apology phone call would not be enough:

So far, Heitkamp’s only actions have been to personally call the victims- which they say is insufficient- and to fire an unnamed staffer without any explanation- which Heitkamp herself said is insufficient.

“Heitkamp’s actions prove she will exploit whoever she can for political gain,” said North Dakota Republican Party Communications Director Jake Wilkins. “Instead of launching attack ads and using seniors as political pawns, Heitkamp should focus on apologizing to the victims of sexual assault she outed without their consent.”

Cramer has supported a better health care system for North Dakota, but Heitkamp wants to leave Obamacare fully in tact.

And after the events of this week, Heidi Heitkamp has no place trying to once again exploit women’s issues for political gain.

“Heidi Heitkamp is once again on the air misrepresenting her opponent to the people of North Dakota,” said North Dakota Republican Party Communications Director Jake Wilkins. “Given her no votes on tax cuts, illegal immigration, and Justice Kavanaugh, it’s clear that Heitkamp doesn’t represent North Dakota values in the Senate. Despite her apology tour, Heitkamp seems dead set on her path of exploiting victims for political gain and is swiftly returning to the lies and misinformation her campaign is built on.”

The Heidi Heitkamp campaign is facing fierce backlash after outing sexual assault victims without their consent in a political attack ad.

Last night, some of these women spoke out- one anonymously, fearing her abuser can now find her- about how this has already impacted their lives. See what they have to say:

KFYR

KX4

CBS

CNN

The actions by the Heitkamp campaign that led to this tragedy are being rightfully slammed on the airwaves by local and national media:

Fox News: “unconscionable. It’s political malpractice.”

Valley News Live: “full crisis mode”

CNN: “obviously a mistake”

POV’s Chris Berg: “using sexual assault survivors pain for her own political gain”

LET’S BE CLEAR: This only happened because Heidi Heitkamp was desperately looking for a way to score cheap political points against Kevin Cramer. Given what this has done to the victims of Heitkamp’s indefensible actions, this grave error in judgement should be disqualifying.

Heidi Heitkamp paid for an ad labeling women as sexual assault survivors without their consent, according to at least four women publicly posting about it.

So far, the Heitkamp campaign has not responded publicly, though they’ve admitted to messing up in a Facebook message. And while a Heitkamp surrogate called them “idiots;” these women, and everyone who saw the ad, deserve an explanation for Heitkamp’s actions.

In Case You Missed It…

Women Say Heitkamp Campaign Identified Them as Sexual Assault Survivors Without Their Permission

Recently Senator Heidi Heitkamp’s campaign ran an ad (see below) formulated as an open letter sent to Congressman Kevin Cramer by survivors of sexual assault.

The letter purports that some of Cramer’s recent comments about the controversy surrounding the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh were insensitive, but at least four of the women named in the ad feel like they got the raw end of the deal.

Kady Miller of Bismarck is one of the women named in the ad, but says in a Facebook post that “A lot of these people listed, including me, did not give anyone permission for our names to be posted.”

“I don’t even support Heidi Heitkamp and I am not a domestic abuse survivor,” she continues.

Miller didn’t name any of the other women allegedly included in the ad without permission, but in the comments to her post Keeley Beck of Mandan says her name was included without her permission as well:

Another commenter on Miller’s post, Lexi Zhorela of Bismarck, also says she was used for the ad without her permission:

In a separate Facebook post, Eve Lancaster of Bismarck also indicates that her name was included in the letter without her permission. She describes herself as “disgusted” and “furious.”

I’ve communicated directly with two of the women who say they were misidentified and I’m working on getting more information from them.

I’ve reached out to the Heitkamp campaign for comment about this ad, asking how it came to be and how the names were chosen for the ad, but the Senator and her Senate/campaign staff don’t typically respond to me.

In a desperate move to distract from her anti-life, anti-gun, anti-North Dakota vote against Justice Kavanaugh, Heidi Heitkamp is now trying to make debate schedules and accessibility an issue in this campaign, but that won’t work.

Throughout her career, Hiding Heidi has ignored tough questions facing her constituents, declined interview opportunities with local media, and even “run scared” from reporters asking tough questions. In clear contrast, Kevin Cramer is known for his accessibility, and it’s one of many reasons North Dakotans support him.

This striking diffence will be on full display tonight, as Kevin Cramer hosts a televised town hall, where he will hear directly from his constituents and tackle the tough issues facing North Dakota.

Senator Heitkamp was offered the same opportunity, but she declined.

“Hiding Heidi Heitkamp has spent the last six years avoiding tough questions from her constituents,” said North Dakota Republican Party Communications Director Jake Wilkins. “Instead of baselessly attacking her opponent, Heitkamp should focus on answering for opposing North Dakotans on important issues like tax cuts, illegal immigration, and the Supreme Court.”

After Heidi Heitkamp blew off votes on President Trump’s judicial nominees to come save her failing campaign, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced the Senate will adjourn through the November elections.

Now that she can’t hide from her constituents in her $1 million DC home, Heitkamp needs to answer the many questions surrounding her opposition to Justice Kavanaugh.

REMINDER— Heitkamp announced her cowardly decision to cave to Chuck Schumer last week. That same day Heitkamp said “anyone who made this decision prior to the completion of the FBI report … did so prematurely. She also said while she does believe Dr. Ford, “that doesn’t mean I don’t believe him [Kavanaugh].”

Since then, her story has dramatically changed. Heitkamp now admits her opposition had nothing to do with viewing the FBI report, but rather his “body language.” She’s also aired a campaign ad saying she does not believe him.

Heitkamp’s timeline for opposing Kavanaugh is inconsistent and her rationale is riddled with holes. North Dakotans deserve to have their questions answered, such as:

Did Heitkamp choose to oppose him following the FBI report or from watching him on TV with no sound?

Why did Heitkamp likely make a campaign ad before she viewed the FBI report?

A week ago today Heidi Heitkamp finally revealed she would vote against North Dakota by opposing Justice Kavanaugh. This was the day Heitkamp viewed the FBI report and said “anyone who made this decision prior to the completion of the FBI report … did so prematurely.” This was also the day Heitkamp said while she does believe Dr. Ford, “that doesn’t mean I don’t believe him.”

Since then, her story has dramatically changed. Heidi Heitkamp now admits her opposition to Justice Kavanaugh had nothing to do with viewing the FBI report she demanded, but rather his “body language.” She’s also aired a campaign ad– one she likely made before viewing the FBI report- where she says she does not believe him.

Heitkamp’s timeline for opposing Kavanaugh has been inconsistent and her rationale has been riddled with holes, and it’s left North Dakotans with more questions than answers, such as:

Did Heitkamp choose to oppose him following the FBI report or from watching him on TV with no sound?

Why did Heitkamp likely make a campaign ad before she viewed the FBI report?

Does Heitkamp condone the obstructionist tactics her colleagues used to derail this nomination?

The Heitkamp campaign and allies have dutifully followed her brother Joel Heitkamp’s orders to try to “move on” from this issue, but North Dakotans deserve answers for Heitkamp opposing their interests.

In another desperate attempt to remake her image, liberal Democrat Heidi Heitkamp is trying to call out Hillary Clinton last night for saying Democrats “cannot be civil” with Republicans.

Heidi, where have you been?

After she endorsed Hillary in 2016, Heitkamp remained one of Hillary’s biggest backers as Clinton called half the country deplorable, said President Trump would cause a recession, denounced his plan to combat illegal immigration, and claimed states like North Dakota were only “looking backwards.”

With her campaign on the brink of defeat, cheap political stunts like this are too little, too late for the Heitkamp campaign. If she really thought Clinton’s comments were “disgraceful,” Heitkamp would call on Hillary Clinton’s Super PAC to pull out of North Dakota.

“Heidi Heitkamp has spent the last six years ignoring the will of her constituents and dutifully following her liberal party leaders like Hillary Clinton,” said North Dakota Republican Party Communications Director Jake Wilkins. “One cable news appearance won’t make voters forget her support for higher taxes, dangerous sanctuary cities, and opposition to Justice Kavanaugh.”

Many seem enamored that Heidi Heitkamp admitted her opposition to Justice Kavanaugh had nothing to do with anything he said or did, but rather his “body language” when she watched the hearing with no sound.

LET’S BE CLEAR—Her decision had nothing to do with a muted television. The only thing Heitkamp keeps on mute is her constituents as she’s voted against their interests for the last six years.

TIMELINE— Heidi Heitkamp made the cowardly decision to cave to Chuck Schumer.

– Then she filmed an ad about it.

– Then she reviewed the FBI report that she claimed was necessary.

– Then she told North Dakota her decision.

– Then she said anyone who had made their decision before they viewed the FBI report- like Heitkamp herself- had done so “prematurely.”

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS— Heitkamp’s explanation for her opposition has been riddled with inconsistencies from the start. North Dakotans deserve answers to the questions she’s so-far refused to answer, such as:

Even though her brother/de-facto spokesman said the campaign hopes voters will “move on” from this issue, Heitkamp says she wants a chance to explain her anti-life, anti-gun, anti-North Dakota vote. If that’s true, she should be able to answer these questions.

On the day of her announcement, Heitkamp said “anyone who made this decision prior to the completion of the FBI report … did so prematurely.” Yet she clearly filmed the ad before she viewed the report. Here’s the full timeline:

Thursday, October 4th

11:07am– Heitkamp concludes viewing the FBI report:

1:29pm– Heitkamp announces her opposition to Kavanaugh:

5:06pm- Report released where Heitkamp tells reporters “anyone who made this decision prior to the completion of the FBI report … did so prematurely:”

Friday, October 5th

12:14pm- Heidi Heitkamp sends the campaign ad to the television studios. Anchor Chris Berg has the latest: